Pubdate: Mon, 21 Mar 2005
Source: Edson Leader (CN AB)
Copyright: 2005 Edson Leader
Contact:  http://www.edsonleader.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/780
Author: Zahra Jamal, Leader staff

REALITY OF ALCOHOL AND DRUGS HITS HOME

Apart From Individuals Gasping In Shock Every Now and Then, Not Even a Pin 
Drop Could Be Heard In The Silence.

The audience was taken to the front line of car collisions by renowned 
speaker Norbert Georget at Holy Redeemer Junior/Senior High School last Monday.

Georget, a former paramedic from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, who became sick 
to his stomach one day with the number of casualties he witnessed resulting 
from drug and alcohol abuse, decided to show students the aftermath of 
accidents through a slide show.

"It was tough sometimes, but honesty and reality are good things," said 
principal Patrick Fogarty.

Many people who came back for a second presentation in the evening 
commented on how silent the room was as he spoke, holding students 
spellbound with disturbing pictures of collisions that occurred while 
people drove under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

"It was really moving. It made me think a lot about the future and what to 
do under peer pressure now that I know the consequences," said 13-year-old 
Pine Grove Middle School student Kristin Tarves.

Georget is no stranger to students. His Smart Youth Power Assembly has been 
presented to about one million students in 2,000 public schools across 
North America.

He stresses that drinking and driving are the number one killer among teens 
today, which is why it's the focus of his presentation.

"The collisions show the pain associated with alcohol and drugs. We usually 
only see the pleasure, like in the movies," said Georget.

Neuro-association is used as a natural way of getting the message across. 
When pain is associated with a certain activity, the individual is likely 
to avoid engaging in it, said Georget.

For example, if a young boy keeps getting rejected after asking girls out 
for a date, he eventually becomes very hesitant to ask them out again.

During the slide show, Georget provided an example of one boy who saw his 
presentation but still ended up killing an innocent victim one night after 
drinking and driving.

"He didn't believe in the pain," said Georget, adding that this individual 
wanted to meet with him years later while serving his prison sentence.

When they met, Georget told the boy all about the female victim he killed 
and those that perished along with her, including her mother that suffered 
a stroke only two months after the accident and was never able to speak again.

Other slides projected a vivid picture for youth and helped to explain why 
parents want their kids to call home during their night out.

"This is what they worry about," said Georget, displaying pictures of major 
car accidents and explaining their circumstances.

"The pictures surprised me a lot. You hear about it but never see it," said 
Tarves.

Georget was still careful not to make the presentation into one big horror 
movie. The audience also benefitted from his lesson on the cycle of 
addiction, where he explained the different stages an addict goes through 
from the moment they experience mood swings to the point where they need 
the substance just to function normally.

Parents were reminded of the important role they play in the lives of their 
children with the examples they provide.

In a simple exercise he asked everyone to participate in, people were 
requested to touch their chin while he pretended to demonstrate by touching 
his cheek. Audience members touched their cheek instead and Georget proved 
how true the old saying is -- actions speak louder than words.

For more information about Georget, visit his Web site at 
www.norbertgeorget.com.
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MAP posted-by: Terry Liittschwager